Josh Gregory - Playing Pokémon GO

Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing Group
Ann Arbor, Michigan
www.cherrylakepublishing.com

Reading Adviser: Marla Conn MS, Ed., Literacy specialist, Read-Ability, Inc.
Photo Credits: BlurryMe/Shutterstock, cover; Kdonmuang/Shutterstock, 4; hbpictures/Shutterstock, 10; Taweepat/
Shutterstock, 6, 8, 16, 20

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Pokmon GO is one of the most popular smartphone games ever.
It has been downloaded by more than 800 million users since its
2016 release.

On the GO

Video games can be a lot of fun. But
sometimes it is also good to go outside and
get some exercise. What if you could do
both of those things at the same time? With
Pokmon GO , you can! Pokmon GO is an
augmented reality (AR) game. You
play it by taking your iOS or Android
smartphone out on walks through the real
world.

Youll get to choose your characters looks when you start playing.
Pick anything you want. You can make changes anytime, if you feel
like trying a new style later!

Getting Started

Want to become a Pokmon trainer? First, you
need to download the Pokmon GO app.
Then youll have to set up an account. Ask a
parent to help you with these steps. Then
youll be ready to play! A character named
Professor Willow will greet you when you
start the game. He will share some important
tips about the game. Be sure to pay attention!

When to Spend

It doesnt cost anything to download or start playing Pokmon GO . But
there are many ways to spend money in the game. Microtransactions let
players purchase all kinds of in-game items. Always ask permission
before spending money on microtransactions. And remember that you
dont need these items to succeed at the game!

Dont worry too much about which Pokmon you pick as your
starter. Youll get a chance to catch the other two later on.

Your First
Pokmon

Now it is time to catch your first Pokmon.
Right away, three different Pokmon will
show up on the screen near your character.
Tap on whichever one looks most
interesting to you. The screen will change to
a close-up view of the Pokmon. Use your
finger to flick the Pok Ball at the bottom of
the screen toward the creature. Youll catch
it if you have good aim!

Be aware of your surroundings as you play Pokmon GO . Dont run
into people or objects. Watch out for vehicles. You dont want to
get hurt while you play!

Explore Your
World

You should notice that your character is
standing on a background that looks like a
map. The map might look a little familiar.
Thats because it shows your location in the
real world. Your character will move on the
map as you move around in real life. Try
walking to different places. A variety of
Pokmon should appear on-screen as you
travel!

Getting a complete Pokdex is not easy. It takes many hours of
hard work to find every Pokmon in the game!

Catch Them
If You Can

Catching new Pokmon species is one of
the main goals in Pokmon GO . Each one
creates a new entry in your Pokdex. Not all
Pokmon are easy to catch. Some will break
free of Pok Balls. Others will run away. Try
using better Pok Balls to catch these tough
creatures. You can also use berries and other
items to make Pokmon easier to capture.

You Never Know What Youll Find

Try playing Pokmon GO in lots of different places and at
different times. Some Pokmon are only found in certain parts
of the world. Some are usually found during certain kinds of
weather. Some are more likely to come out during the day.
Others come out at night.

You will usually find more Pokmon and PokStops when you are
in a busy city area than when you are in the country.

Just Stopping By

You might notice blue markers on your map
as you walk around. They are usually
located near landmarks in a neighborhood.
You might find one at a statue or a historic
building. These blue markers are called
PokStops. Tap every one you come across.
Then use your finger to spin the circle that
pops up. It will give you Pok Balls and
other useful items.

Youll be rewarded with a bunch of useful items each time you
level up.

The Next Level

When you catch Pokmon or complete
other goals, you gain something called XP.
Earning XP allows your character to level
up. Leveling up is very important in
Pokmon GO . The most powerful Pokmon
only appear when your level is high
enough. Having a higher level means you
will also get better items at PokStops.

A Never-Ending Challenge

The developers of Pokmon GO are always adding new things to
the game. For example, hundreds of new Pokmon have been
added to the game since its release. There are always new
challenges to face and new things to discover. This means you
will never run out of things to do!

Pokmon with higher Combat Power (CP) have stronger attacks.
Also, some types of Pokmon are strong or weak against others.
For example, fire-type Pokmon are strong against ice-type
Pokmon.

Step into the
Arena

You can start battling with your Pokmon
after you reach level 5. First, youll need to
visit a gym. Gyms look like big towers on
your map. Walk near one and tap it to go
inside. You have to join one of three teams.
Each teams goal is to capture gyms and
defend them from the other two teams. You
can capture gyms by fighting the Pokmon
inside. Defend captured gyms by leaving
strong Pokmon inside.

Your trainer level limits how much you can power up your
Pokmon. Keep leveling up if you want to make your Pokmon
stronger!

Stronger and
Stronger

There is a lot more to do in Pokmon GO as
you keep playing. You can battle head-to-head
against other players. You can also team up to
defeat extra-tough Pokmon. But first, youll
need to power up and evolve your team. To
do this, you need to feed your Pokmon
Stardust and candy. The Pokmon will then get
stronger. It will have a better chance of winning
battles. This means youll be ready for the next
challenge. Have fun!

Glossary

augmented reality (awg-MEN-tid ree-AL-uh-tee)
interactive digital experiences that take place in a real
world environment

developers (dih-VEL-uh-purz) people who make
video games or other computer programs

evolve (ih-VOLV) to change into a new form

microtransactions (MYE-kroh-trans-ak-shuhns)
things that can be purchased for a small amount of
money within a video game or other computer program

species (SPEE-sheez) a specific kind of Pokmon,
such as a Pikachu or Charmander

Find Out More

Books

Cunningham, Kevin. Video Game Designer . Ann Arbor, MI: Cherry
Lake Publishing, 2016.